8 Creative Ways You Can Enjoy a Bag of Ruby - Besides Drinking it

We couldn’t imagine a day without coffee and there are a million different ways to enjoy it. Most of them involve drinking it, but did you know you can do something other than drink (or eat) coffee? Coffee grounds and beans can be used to clean, in your skincare routine and more.

As much as we love to sit back and sip on a good, hot cup of Ruby Roasters coffee, it’s good to know that we can use the leftover grounds instead of throwing them in the trash. We never pass up an opportunity to create less waste and reuse.

Here’s eight ways you can use a bag of Ruby:

1 . Tenderize meat

Use coffee grounds as a rub on beef or pork to tenderize the meat and infuse a smoky flavor. If you want to add flavor to a juicy steak, marinate it in a batch of brewed black coffee for an hour before you grill.

2. Scour your pots and pans

Skip the metal scouring pads and sprinkle some coffee grounds on a rag to scrub away any caked-on grease from your pots and pans. Since coffee makes for a good dye, make sure you don’t use them on ceramic or other dishes that stain easily.

3. Neutralize odors

Coffee grounds work wonders at absorbing odors. Put a small bowl of used coffee grounds wherever you want to get rid of smells, like your refrigerator or freezer. Or make an air freshener with coffee grounds and panty hose. You can even rub coffee grounds on your hands after you chop something pungent, such as garlic or onions, to rid the smell.

4. Exfoliate your skin

The sand-like texture of coffee grounds makes them great for exfoliating your skin. Simply add them to your regular body lotion or make a DIY coffee scrub.

5. Get scratches out of your furniture

Whether you got an antique already scratched up or you nicked your new coffee table by accident, coffee grounds can help with that. Create a mixture of used coffee grounds, warm water and vinegar and slab it on. Get the full directions here.

6. Repel bugs

While coffee attracts worms, the acidity of coffee grounds repels slugs, snails and ants. Sprinkle some in your garden or anywhere you want to keep bugs out.

7. Decorate

Pour coffee beans into any clear vase to add something extra to your decorating. You can use it as a holder for makeup brushes, pens or even fake flowers.

8. Make coffee ice cubes

No one likes watered-down iced coffee. The solution: Make ice cubes out of coffee. When you brew a pot of your favorite Ruby, pour some joe in an ice cube tray and stick it in the freezer. Voila! (And then put those coffee ice cubes in a blender with some booze for the ultimate pick-me-up.)

Gives a whole new meaning to “Grounded in hard work,” right? Stop in to any of our locations to get your own bag of Ruby coffee, so you can test it out for yourself.